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We both began to look around. A few scattered students were hunched over books and laptops. One guy in a far corner was dozing off. A girl across the room was deep into a novel, earbuds in. No one was actively looking at us, but someone had been.

“Are you scared?” Cloe asked quietly.

“No. Not yet. I’m freaked out in a different way, though.”

She pulled out her phone, hit a few keys, and then held it out to me. “Look. I got this when we stopped at the snack stand earlier.”

The message she showed me was from a number I didn’t recognize, but similar in tone.

1125

Ever wonder what else I know?

Keep your guard up.

“What else do they know? Did they say something before now?”

“I deleted it. Can’t even remember what it said.” She shrugged as if it were no big deal and didn’t elaborate.

“Sometimes the things they say seem a little too personal.”

She nodded, her expression thoughtful. “We already expected the texts to reach all of us. Separately. Together. It doesn’t matter. They’re watching.”

“I know. Ari said as much.” I rubbed a kink from my neck. “The Hunt hasn’t even started yet, and if this is the buildup, what the hell is the main event going to be like?”

“What did Ari call it? A test of mental fortitude?”

I let out a dry laugh, quickly sobering. “Speaking of. There was a guy upstairs.”

I told her everything. The way he spoke and how he mentioned her and Roxxi by name, going on to explain the day Kellan and I got the first Hunt notification from Crowsfell.

Her expression shifted from concern to clinical. “You’re sure it was him?”

“He said it was, but I have no way of knowing for certain. I never saw the person’s face.”

She was silent for a beat. “Okay. We tell Ari. Roxxi too. Then we take the guys up on that offer. Next week, we won’t go anywhere alone. Even if that means sticking with another Marked from a class. There are enough of us that we should at least have one or two taking a course we do.”

She wasn’t going to get an argument from me about this. I glanced at my phone again and saw the time.

“Shit,” I cursed, already reaching for Ari’s iPad to slip into its carrier. “We’re late. Or I am.”

She started gathering her things without question. I slung my satchel high on my shoulder, and we made our way to the exit, firing off a text to Roxxi just as she sent one to me.

Roxxi

Get your ass moving.

Leaving the library now with Cici. Be there soon.

The heavy oak doors groaned as we pushed through them, too loud for the sudden quiet outside. The corridorstretched long and mostly empty. I picked up my pace, and so did Cloe. When my phone went off again, vibrating since it was still on silent, I expected it to be Roxxi.

One glance at the screen showed otherwise.

1031

Keep running late.

I might catch up to you.

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